Ring End Gap Position?

[ChrisAdam45]

Hey Guys,
Forgive the newbie question but does it matter where the ring end gap ends up? It seems to me like if it travels over a port the free ends of the ring could stick out a little bit and hang up on the port. Is there a best way to point it? This is on a 288XP.
Thanks.

 

[w8ye]

Good observation about the ring end catching in a port

Some more observation will reveal a pin down through the ring groves on the intake side of the piston.

This is where your ring gap goes

 

[Roanoker494]

There should be some kind of mark on the piston top that is suppose it point towards the exhaust. There should be pins in the ring grooves that show where the ends should go, which should be more towards the intake side.

 

[ChrisAdam45]

Thanks. Guess I hadn't looked as close as I thought.

 

[heimannm]

Most of the "modern" saws do indeed have locating pins for the ring end gaps, but many older saws to not. When I run in to one of those vintage saws without pins, I try to locate the end gaps 90-120° apart and if possible, away from any ports. Since there are no locating pins, I am not sure the rings don't move around a bit on their own anyway.

Mark

 

[buzz sawyer]

Good question.

What about when the piston has no alignment pin - like some older saws? I've tried to place the gap in an area that gives the most distance from the intake and exhaust ports, but sometimes the ends work their way around to a port.

 

[buzz sawyer]

Beat me to it Heimannm.

 

[w8ye]

Most of the old saws without pinned rings had the ports divided up into small sections so the ring would not catch?

 

[67L36Driver]

Most of the old saws without pinned rings had the ports divided up into small sections so the ring would not catch?

Yup, looking in the exhaust on one of my Rem. 75's I see three round holes in the cylinder. End of a ring not likely to catch in such hole.